Cosmos postgame

[D_RoyJenkins]

I'm not sure why conclusions are being drawn as to the strength of our team based on this game. There were two starters playing. This basically tells us our second string is worse than the best NASL team. There is no shame in that. We are a second year team, with roster construction that has been focused solely on getting a competitive MLS team up and running. Not saying we are great, but this game has zero bearing on our worth as a team.

My thoughts exactly. MLS fans and the media hype up these "derby" losses because it feeds into the hate NYCFC narrative. We fielded a rotated squad that have barely played together this season and they lost the match in the 90th minute. It's not the big deal everyone is making it out to be.

 

[adam]

I'm not sure why conclusions are being drawn as to the strength of our team based on this game. There were two starters playing. This basically tells us our second string is worse than the best NASL team. There is no shame in that. We are a second year team, with roster construction that has been focused solely on getting a competitive MLS team up and running. Not saying we are great, but this game has zero bearing on our worth as a team.

I think this match is helping to point out flaws in our roster construction (specifically because we were only allowed 5 international players). When we all started trying to put the puzzle together, we started asking reasonable questions, such as:

1. If we are only using out backup keeper for cup competitions that limit the # of intl players, why the hell do we have an intl backup keeper?
2. The supposed best player on the pitch (and highest paid by far) was Mix. Yet he did not perform like a star player, dominating versus lesser talent. I personally never watched Mix play abroad, and the only good match I saw him play on an international level was versus Turkey in a Friendly before the WC. So now the questions come up, how did he garner such a contract, that's on par with some of the best players in MLS? And we start to imagine how different our team would look with one of those player instead.
3. Why is Khiry Shelton consistently starting or playing major minutes? It's obvious to anyone who watches, that he can't do anything with the ball once he gets it. I understand he's a project, but then he should only play in training. Jack Harrison is our most recent draft pick and look how great he looks in contrast. He was not only a bad pick, but he was a REACH by our origination on a player no one saw as a #2 pick, but CFG knows best, right?
4. Why is Mullins even on the roster? We picked RJ Allen up off the street! If players are not going to give 100%, dump them and pick someone else off the street. If they don't work out, try again. But don't keep that type of player around, just don't.
5. If we knew we couldn't compete for an MLS cup or SS in the 1st few seasons, wouldn't it make sense to attempt to construct a team that could make a USOC run? That would mean US DPs. At least 1 or 2. It feels like the roster was put together to sell tickets more then win matches.
6. Why are we not trying to win the USOC or every derby match we play. You want to sell tickets? Don't hurt the fans' pride by touting out a B team vs our local rival in the only opportunity we have for hardware and to expand the cap to sign some more talent.

Ok, I have to stop. Maybe work can calm me down.

 

[Tom in Fairfield CT]

I'm always confused out of what people expect from a CM. He got the ball to the forwards and he got the ball back from LI's midfield. We had most of the ball, and our forwards had plenty of ball in good places to start something. How is it MIx's fault that Khiry can't hit a cross, Mullins is triple covered and POku is running around in midfield somewhere. Mix is not Lee Nguyen who scores and creates at the top of the 18, he's not Pirlo who drops balls on a dime from 50 yards away. He is a hard worker who gets the ball from the other midfield and gets it to the forwards. Teams with bad midfields play counter attack ball because they can't consistently get it through midfield, eg most MLS teams.

 

[Gotham Gator]

Was ballouchy then on the left wing? I didn't see him there, seemed like he was always in some no man's land near center of field.

I did see him up there, yes. I can't vouch for whether they always switched or whether Poku just tracked back sometimes, but they definitely switched for a good portion of the first half.

 

[Rimil]

Mix was fine - definitely not the problem out there. On the other hand, Mullins should be traded for a bag of balls & Shelton for a metal practice dummy.

what kind of metal we talking? there are limits to what a sports supply shop will be willing to get hosed on a trade.

 

[Rimil]

Mix salary $761,250

David Accam $770,938
Jermain Jones $650,000
Matt Besler $733,250
Dom Dwyer $618,750
Graham Zusi $732,102
Ignacio Piatti $425,000
Laurent Ciman $661,667
Kai Kamara $1,000,000
Lee Nguyen $500,000
Sacha Kljestan $687,500
Bradley Wright-Phillips $710,000
Fanendo Adi $712,500
Diego Valeri $550,000
Kyle Beckerman $750,000
Javier Morales $590,000
Nick Rimando $420,000
Chris Wondolowski $700,000
Octavio Rivero $890,850

What the hell was CFG thinking??? He's as much of an albotoros as Cookie Burger. This team is unfixable with those 2 on our roster.

FUCK! i was thinking about it in my head about guys like nagbe and valeri, but it really hurts to see that list all in one place. Its not just for Mix, but for our DPs too.

 

[Ulrich]

what kind of metal we talking? there are limits to what a sports supply shop will be willing to get hosed on a trade.

The epoxy-coated steel is probably a pipe-dream..... how about tin? or enough aluminum foil wrap to squeeze it tight and shape it - can probably pick up boxes at CVS?

 

[roxfontaine]

Are you going to Storify that series? It would be a good way to re-post it, in order, outside the context of Twitter. And I think that's a good idea.

Not sure how to do that. I could figure it out but I'm not that interested in it. It's really for the club, not for the public. (Yes, I know I posted it publicly.)

 

[danger]

I'm always confused out of what people expect from a CM.

I think it's what do you expect from Mix/CM versus what do you expect for his salary given the cap. I think most people who are frustrated are so because of other theoretical options at that price point

 

[Tom in Fairfield CT]

I think it's what do you expect from Mix/CM versus what do you expect for his salary given the cap. I think most people who are frustrated are so because of other theoretical options at that price point

Ok, on that whole list, none of the guys play mix position. Those guys are forwards, attacking mids, defensive mids and defenders. Mix is a poor man's bedoya. It's no surprise the us has looked less counter attacky since bedoyas been playing. It's a unglamorous position, but it's clear the architects of the team realize it's importance on the team as a whole. You can't play possession soccer without a strong central midfield. And we are leading the league in possession. Of you want to complain about lack of scoring look at the shitty forwards, not mix. It's not his job. Hopefully harrison will fix that

 

[Classicist]

The unfortunate thing I realized by watching this game was that the team on field tonight is our team without star DP players and we can't beat a mid table NASL team. That's scary.

It shouldn't be that surprising, given where we are in our history. Our team (ex DPs) is still predominantly made up of youngsters and MLS / 2nd tier Europe cast-offs, many of whom wouldn't be altogether out of place on a NASL roster.

 

[danger]

Ok, on that whole list, none of the guys play mix position. Those guys are forwards, attacking mids, defensive mids and defenders.

Sorry, to be clear: when I said other options at that price point, I meant other roster options outside of CM.

Mix is the only player outside of our DP's making above the CAP, but he has only been on the field 60% of the time this season, so I am not sure how critical he has been to our possession stats (honest observation, not being snarky; when I looked up his minutes, I was actually surprised they were as high as they were, it doesn't feel like he's been on the field that much)

 

[Viewfrom226]

A few thoughts:

- I agree with the sentiment above that this doesn't really say much about our team and prospects this year given who was selected. I also have no problem with Vieira's selection - that group should have been good enough to win and, personally, I'd rather him prioritize the game on Saturday.

- I've been a Mullins advocate for a while, but it was not a good day for him. Some of that was him, but it also seemed like there were too many times when he was very isolated. Shelton, as has been said, was poor. I was somewhat glad to see him get the start, because I think that means he doesn't start Saturday.

- Given that lineup, I assume Jack starts at one wing Saturday. There are then some interesting choices as among Mendoza, TMac, Lampard and, maybe, Mix for the other wing and CAM spot.

- I thought Gomez looked pretty bright generally, but from the very start he was tucking in very tight defensively and there was acres of space down the left wing for the Cosmos when the ball was on the other side of the pitch. Not surprising that, ultimately, the goal came on a counter-attack down that side.

- Without wading too much into the Mix debate which has become a bit of a polarized discussion, I have to say I hoped we'd see him do more in a match against an NASL team. Maybe that is unfair because he is a cog in the machine and the other parts around him were lacking, but I understand the impulse to feel like, at his price point and reputation, you want to see him really influencing a game sometimes.

- Given the rotation and desire to save the first team for Saturday, Lopez was probably the obvious choice at d-mid, but it was probably exactly the wrong game to have him there. In a match where we are going to have possession, I'd rather have somebody who can pass the ball better. I thought he had a pretty decent game for what he is, but that wasn't the type of game he is well suited to. It might have been interesting to flip Ballouchy and Lopez.

- I continue to feel like Diego Martinez is a good cover player for Matarrita and remain a bit frustrated that, when Mata was at CA, Vieira shifted RJ to LB instead.

- I was really glad to get to see Mena. I thought he looked rusty and still scares me on the ball. But, the athleticism and 1 on 1 defending is good. While he's done a lot of good work this year, Hernandez is undersized and gets in trouble when matched 1 on 1 (see Yura's goal against RSL) against physical CFs. I think we are pretty far away from a Mena-Brillant backline, but I will forever pine for it.

 

[roxfontaine]

Mix was Captain for the Cosmos match. Post match interviews and apologies came from Mikey Lopez and Shannon Gomez. TONE FUCKING DEAF!

 

[21Architect]

I'd like to add that I think some are underestimating the level of talent on the Cosmos side

 

[Viewfrom226]

Mix was Captain for the Cosmos match. Post match interviews and apologies came from Mikey Lopez and Shannon Gomez. TONE FUCKING DEAF!

Mix cannot be a happy guy these days. One day before the USMNT is in a knock-out game, he's running around with the reserves playing the Cosmos at Forham. And losing.

I'm not sure I have anything to contribute to the debate about what SHOULD happen with him, but it will be very interesting to see what will happen with him this offseason.

 

[LionNYC]

During the Halftime chat with the announcers, Janish whatever his name is, sounded confident and said to PV, " I think Mullins is having a tremendous half etc etc" Something alone those lines, and PV quickly stated the opposite saying that he thought Mullins needs to do better and should do better etc. So from there I thought WOW, PV actually saying that about one of his players without kid gloves, he really must have pissed PV off with his play. I look at the highlight, and the easy goal we could have had, had he seen Poku, I am thinking to myself, this kid just plainly sucks. We can't expect anything out of him really.

I absolutely dread Janusz Michallik. If Ian Joy isn't in the booth with Joe Tolleson, have Joe call the game alone or just but a cardboard cutout of someone next to him.

 

[roxfontaine]

Mix cannot be a happy guy these days. One day before the USMNT is in a knock-out game, he's running around with the reserves playing the Cosmos at Forham. And losing.

Understandable. Still, he was the Captain. Pull yourself up for a moment and show why you were given that armband.

 

[Viewfrom226]

Understandable. Still, he was the Captain. Pull yourself up for a moment and show why you were given that armband.

Absolutely. I don't disagree with you at all. It was more a tangential thought inspired by your post.

 

[Ulrich]

Understandable. Still, he was the Captain. Pull yourself up for a moment and show why you were given that armband.

Honest question being asked: does the player or the club decide who speaks after games?

Mix has been a very loyal company man for 1.5 years and has never said anything off base even when putting up with the circus last year.

I'm just speculating, but he may have been so pissed off after the game, and voiced his dismay in the locker room as the captain, that the club did not want him speaking publicly out of fear he may not tout the company line. Seriously.

I've seen the anguish on his face after other matches we loose, and yesterday was a cluster-Fck of epic proportions from coaching to certain players to the club renting a ping pong table, and surrounding him with retreads is no better than playing him out of position. I think he was put on ice.